Earn
NSW wage freeze war to continue
NSW public sector workers will see their case to maintain a yearly 2.5 per cent wage increase taken to the Industrial Relations Commission after the upper house blocked the government from wielding such power.
NSW wage freeze war to continue
NSW public sector workers will see their case to maintain a yearly 2.5 per cent wage increase taken to the Industrial Relations Commission after the upper house blocked the government from wielding such power.

Calling it a “sad day”, state treasurer Dominic Perrottet said Labor and the cross-bench had shown “little regard” for the “thousands lining up outside Centrelink and approaching charities for food hampers because they can no longer afford to put food on the table”.
More than 400,000 workers would be affected by the pay freeze — those under around 70 public sector awards — including frontline nurses, paramedics, police officers and public transport workers who have played a key role as “essential workers” through the pandemic.
“At a time when there are hundreds of thousands of people out of work, the creation of new jobs must be our top priority, not giving those with job security a pay rise,” Treasurer Perrottet said.
The voting down of the freeze followed the offer of a $1,000 bonus to frontline workers and a 12-month job guarantee.

Shadow treasurer Walt Secord called the government’s move a “bit of a Sophie’s choice” in parliament.
Highlighting how the government had offered affected workers a $1,000 payment if they approved the wage freeze, Mr Secord said that when that negotiation failed, “she threatens them — and she says, ‘If you don’t take that $1,000 and you don’t take the pay cut, we’ll sack you’.
“But this is about priorities.
“She should be stimulating the economy, [and] getting cash flowing.”
According to Mr Perrottet, “this hasn’t been an easy decision, but it is fair and it’s the right decision right now”.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian had previously said that “the only way NSW will come out of this crisis in a strong position is if we all make sacrifices, and that’s what we’re asking our own workforce to do because we are all in this together”.
Celebrating the “big win” after moving to disallow the wage freeze, leader of the opposition Jodi McKay said in a tweet that “the wage cut for more than 400,000 workers has been rejected by parties across the spectrum, representing left, right, city and country”.
“For the Berejiklian government to press on would be in defiance of the NSW Parliament and all accepted economic wisdom,” she stated.
“When workers earn more money, they spend more money.”
About the author

About the author


Salary
The financial benefits of a diversified income stream
In today’s volatile economic environment, relying solely on a single source of income can be risky. Diversifying your income streams can provide financial stability, reduce the risk of financial ...Read more

Salary
Despite losing top spot, Elon Musk rakes in $400,000 hourly
Elon Musk, the entrepreneur known for his involvement in a wide range of innovative and technological businesses, has recently been dethroned as the wealthiest individual in the world, with Bernard ...Read more

Salary
Rising unemployment and skill shortages prompt Australian businesses to look globally for talent
Australia has witnessed its unemployment rate surging above 4% for the first time in two years, revealed by the latest Labour Force data. Read more

Salary
New findings link job mobility hurdles to stagnant wage growth
Recent research from the e61 Institute has unearthed significant links between slow wage growth in Australia and obstacles to job mobility, including non-compete clauses, complicated occupational ...Read more

Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to ...Read more

Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for ...Read more

Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. Read more

Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. Read more

Salary
The financial benefits of a diversified income stream
In today’s volatile economic environment, relying solely on a single source of income can be risky. Diversifying your income streams can provide financial stability, reduce the risk of financial ...Read more

Salary
Despite losing top spot, Elon Musk rakes in $400,000 hourly
Elon Musk, the entrepreneur known for his involvement in a wide range of innovative and technological businesses, has recently been dethroned as the wealthiest individual in the world, with Bernard ...Read more

Salary
Rising unemployment and skill shortages prompt Australian businesses to look globally for talent
Australia has witnessed its unemployment rate surging above 4% for the first time in two years, revealed by the latest Labour Force data. Read more

Salary
New findings link job mobility hurdles to stagnant wage growth
Recent research from the e61 Institute has unearthed significant links between slow wage growth in Australia and obstacles to job mobility, including non-compete clauses, complicated occupational ...Read more

Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to ...Read more

Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for ...Read more

Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. Read more

Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. Read more